Leica Q Typ 116 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 — Which Is Better?

The Leica Q Typ 116 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 are both compact cameras with a fixed lens and a full-frame sensor, so neither offers lens changes. Sony launched the RX1 in 2012 and Leica followed in 2015. The RX1 is the smaller and lighter carry, at 113 x 65 x 70 mm and 482 g, against 130 x 80 x 93 mm and 640 g for the Q.

The Leica Q is the stronger camera for fast-paced and bright-light shooting. Its electronic viewfinder enables eye-level work, while the RX1 has no viewfinder and forces the rear screen. The Q also doubles the burst rate at 10 fps versus 5 fps and shortens exposures to 1/16000 second against the RX1's 1/2000 for wide-aperture daylight work. Its 49 autofocus points, against 25, spread coverage wider.

Resolution gives neither camera an edge: 24.3 megapixels on the RX1 against 24.2 on the Q, a 0.4 percent gap in pixel count. Both use full-frame CMOS sensors, so either supports large prints and generous crops. Both start at 100 ISO, but the Q reaches 50000 ISO against the RX1's 25600, more headroom when light fades. Neither has in-body stabilisation, so both need steady handheld technique or a faster shutter.

Video tops out at Full HD on both cameras, with 60 fps the maximum frame rate on each, so neither suits 4K work. The useful split is timelapse: the Q has it built in for interval shots of sunsets or clouds, and the RX1 does not. The Q records MP4, while the RX1 records AVCHD, so match the format to your editing workflow.

The RX1's advantage is ready light and flexible framing: it has a built-in flash for fill indoors plus a screen that flips, which helps waist-level or low-angle shots. The Q offers neither, relying on an external flash for artificial light. The Q answers with a touchscreen instead, so setting the focus point on its 3-inch display is a direct tap rather than button presses.

Both screens are 3 inches, but the Sony's panel shows more detail at 1229000 dots against 1040000 on the Leica, 189000 more for reviewing focus. Neither camera has GPS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so wireless transfer and location tagging are absent from both.

Both cameras write to a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card, with no second slot for backup. The RX1 also accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo cards, useful if you already own Sony media. The Q's battery is rated for 300 shots against 270 for the RX1, and neither charges over USB. Each uses its own battery, so spares are not interchangeable.